Adelaide United striker Bruce Djite is facing two weeks on the sidelines with a groin strain suffered against Melbourne Victory.
Djite came on as a substitute with only three minutes remaining in the 1-0 win over Victory, but will now miss Saturday’s home game with Sydney and most likely the trip to face champions Brisbane Roar in Round 4.
The 24-year-old, who returned for his second stint at Adelaide from A-League rivals Gold Coast United in the off-season, will be monitored by the club’s medical staff over the next fortnight.
“It’s obviously disappointing,” Djite said.
“Injuries can happen at any time and I’m unlucky to suffer one now but it’s better to have an injury at the start of the season than at finals time, so I’m just going to do everything right to get it 100 percent better.”
Compounding Djite’s injury is news that the Reds’ Ukrainian midfielder Evgeniy Levchenko is facing a race against time to overcome a calf problem he suffered at training earlier in the week.
Levchenko has not trained with the main squad since Monday and may not be fit in time for Saturday’s match at Hindmarsh Stadium.
